Stryker Combat Team Assigned to Texas Border
March 31, 2025 – The Trump administration initiated the deployment of approximately 3,000 additional active-duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, including Big Bend National Park in West Texas. This operation features soldiers from the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division, based at Fort Carson, Colorado, equipped with Stryker armored combat vehicles.
The deployment commenced on March 13, with an initial 200 troops already positioned in the area; this number is expected to rise to about 500 in the coming weeks. The troops’ primary role is to support federal agents by providing detection and monitoring assistance, rather than engaging directly in law enforcement activities.
Big Bend National Park, encompassing over 800,000 acres, is Texas’s most visited national park, attracting 561,458 visitors last year. Despite its popularity, the region has historically experienced lower rates of illegal border crossings compared to other sectors. In February, the Big Bend sector reported about 165 migrant encounters, significantly fewer than the 1,679 in Laredo and 2,623 in El Paso during the same period.
This military presence in Big Bend is notable, as the park has not seen such activity in decades. The decision has drawn criticism from environmental organizations like the Sierra Club, which views the move as a misuse of taxpayer funds and a political maneuver. They argue that, given the park’s high visitation rates and the relatively low number of border apprehensions, the deployment is unnecessary and could negatively impact the park’s environment and visitor experience.
This action is part of a broader strategy to enhance border security, with the Pentagon announcing the deployment of additional troops to reinforce existing operations aimed at securing the southern border and maintaining U.S. territorial integrity.
